Exploring Art with Sustrans

Summary

Benefits

• First evaluation of the artwork on their cycle paths, targeting the focus on young people.
• Multidisciplinary team approach greatly contributed to the breadth and depth of the project.
• A ‘toolkit’ and report on evaluation of cognitive, affective and motivational function of the artwork.
• Approach and methodology that can be replicated nationally through their cycle network or other public artwork.

Sustrans is the UK's leading sustainable transport charity, working on practical projects so people can choose to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment. Sustrans commissions artists to enhance its cycle paths with sculpture, landforms and other community art commissions. This award-winning programme is called "Art & The Travelling Landscape" which strives to increase access and understanding of the arts as an imaginative and inspiring way to explore aspects of human experience, influence behaviour and ideas, and empower individuals and communities across the country. This programme works with artists to create high quality public space for local communities, to attract people to try walking and cycling and,by involving local communities in the process, to explore the arts and their associated benefits.

To enable the evaluation Knowledge West brought together a multidisciplinary team to work with the Art and The Travelling Landscape and Research and Monitoring Unit in Sustrans. The team included:

- Lamine Mahdjoubi, Professor of ICT in Built Environment, University of the West of England
- Tim Jay, Lecturer in the Psychology of Education, University of Bristol
- Lesley Greene, Knowledge Exchange specialist, University of Gloucestershire - Art and Environment
- The New Generation Documentors and their adult leaders, including coordinator Kamina Walton

If you are interested to know more on Knowledge West Digital Media collaborative initiatives, please contact Knowledge West